Developers of car park with no planning permission are same firm as those building student flats at Debenhams site in Northampton

A 58-space car park on derelict land between Northampton Crown Court and the Grosvenor Centre is already built and in full operation, despite not having the go-ahead from West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).

The blunder came to light only after the Chron spotted the planning application for the car park last week – yet reporters knew that the site had already been built and was open to motorists.

It took West Northamptonshire Council six days to respond to questioning and the Chron is still yet to hear back from Zone Developments.

A spokesperson from WNC said: “A full planning application has been submitted and is out to consultation.

"Once determined, the outcome will be published on the West Northamptonshire Council website for members of the public to review.”

The Chron asked WNC if enforcement action would now take place.

The authority added: “Planning enforcement officers have now been made aware of this issue and planning services are in the process of prioritising this planning application. Once this is determined, we will take any appropriate next steps.”

The site – East Island Car Park – sits next to the former Greyfriars bus station land. It has been under construction for many months before recently opening to the public.

The car park has become a popular spot for motorists because of its proximity to the town centre and its relatively cheap fees.

The applicant, Neil Thakkar of Zone Developments, based in Leicester, has only recently submitted plans to build the car park.

The car park is manned by an automatic number plate recognition camera and motorists who break any rules will be punished with a £100 fine, according to signage.

Castle ward councillor, Danielle Stone, said: “As I understand it the council sold this land to Zone Developments who have applied for retrospective planning permission.

"I am shocked because I thought East Island was going to be part of the regeneration scheme for this area. How is a car park going to fit with regeneration? It makes no sense.

"However it is indicative of a council selling off assets to balance the books. They are our assets. This council needs to be voted out before they sell off the Guildhall, County Hall and all the rest of our public treasures.”

Zone Developments is the same firm which is currently converting the former Debenhams in Drapery into 201 student flats, which will be spread across seven floors of a brand new building.

The company will not be providing any car parking spaces at Debenhams for the hundreds of students set to move into the halls once they are open.

Mr Thakkar has also recently submitted a planning application to reduce the amount of cycle storage provision at the former Debenhams site from 210 spaces to 157.

Zone Development’s website says that students will be charged £179 per week for a flat, which equates to just under £1.9 million a year in rent in total from all 201 students.

According to planning papers, the cost of delivering the project stands at £12million. Debenhams was demolished in October 2022 after being there for more than 140 years in the town.Further questions have been put to WNC about how the car park was allowed to be built and opened without permission. It is yet to respond.

Several attempts at contacting Zone Developments have been made by the Chron.